The Drinks at This Airport Lounge Actually Make Travel a Pleasure

And while a lot of it might be drinking to forget, Virgin Atlantic is the latest airline to begin offering drinks that you'll really want to savor. The British airline is introducing a menu at its JFK lounge—dubbed the Clubhouse—that includes three drinks created by Manhattan's Employees Only, which has been named Best Bar in the World at Tales of the Cocktail and was featured in the documentary Hey Bartender.

There are food pairings, also created by the Prohibition-era cocktail bar, like Bone Marrow Poppers with Pastry Shell and Bordelaise, Reuben Croquettes with Katz's Pastrami, Sauerkraut and Swiss, and Truffled Grilled Cheese with Parmesan Fries and Truffle Mayo.

The truffled grilled cheese.

Access to the lounge is limited to passengers flying Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club Gold members. As part of a joint venture with Delta Air Lines, Delta One passengers and Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members with same-day nonstop transatlantic flights to and from the U.K. can also visit.

Delta is also getting in on the high-end food and beverage game, replacing the in-flight menu in its Delta One cabin on select trans-Atlantic routes to Europe with meals from New York's Union Square Café beginning March 1 (the current menu is by fellow Union Square Hospitality Group member Marta).

While the restaurant relocates to a new home this spring, diners will be able to feast on Chef Carmen Quagliata's fare like Beef Short Rib Stracotto, Classic Roasted Chicken Breast, Gulf Shrimp and polenta, and a Baked Paccheri basil cream pasta at 37,000 feet.

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